England Secures 9th Consecutive Win Against Physical Fiji

Quilter Nations Series

England (14) 38

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, George, Arundell, Itoje Cons: F Smith 5

Fiji (13) 18

Tries: Ikanivere 2, Muntz Pen: Muntz

The English squad scored four second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the bench will likely again be crucial.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, Cunningham-South

Replacements: George, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Arundell

Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutaumada, Ravouvou, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere, Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Canakaivata, Mata

Replacements: Togiatama, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Murray, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Maqala

Sin-bin: Ravutaumada

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)